A Letter written from Goa by Master Ralph Fitch to Master Leonard Poore abovesaid.
LOVING friend Master Poore, &c.
Since my departure
from Aleppo, I have not written unto you any letters, by
reason that at Babylon I was sicke of the fluxe, and being
sicke, I went from thence for Balsara, which was twelve
dayes journey downe the river Tygris, where we had
extreame hot weather, which was good for my disease,
ill fare, and worse lodging, by reason our boat was
pestered with people. In eight daies, that which I did
eate was very small, so that if we had stayed two dayes
longer upon the water, I thinke I had died: but comming
to Balsara, presently I mended, I thanke God. There we
stayed 14 dayes, and then we imbarked our selves for
Ormuz
, where we arrived the fifth of September, and were
put in prison the ninth of the same moneth, where we
continued untill the 11 of October, and then were shipt
for this citie of Goa in the captaines ship, with an 114
horses, and about 200 men : and passing by Diu & Chaul,
where we went on land to water the 20 of November, we
arrived at Goa the 29 of the said moneth, where for our
better intertainment we were presently put into a faire
strong prison, where we continued untill the 22 of
December. It was the will of God that we found there
2 Padres, the one an Englishman, the other a Flemming.
The Englishmans name is Padre Thomas Stevens, the
others Padre Marco, of the order of S. Paul. These did
sue for us unto the Viceroy and other officers, and stood
us in as much stead, as our lives and goods were woorth :
for if they had not stucke to us, if we had escaped with
our lives, yet we had had long imprisonment.
After 14 dayes imprisonment they offered us, if we
could put in suerties for 2000 duckats, we should goe
abroad in the towne: which when we could not doe, the
said Padres found suerties for us, that we should not
depart the countrey without the licence of the Viceroy.
It doth spite the Italians to see us abroad: and many
marvell at our delivery. The painter is in the cloister of
S. Paul, and is of their order, and liketh there very well.
While we were in prison, both at Ormuz
and here, there
was a great deale of our goods pilfered and lost, and we
have beene at great charges in gifts and otherwise, so
that a great deale of our goods is consumed. There is
much of our things which wil sell very well, & some we
shall get nothing for. I hope in God that at the returne
of the Viceroy, which is gone to Chaul and to Diu, they
say, to winne a castle of the Moores, whose returne is
thought will be about Easter, then we shall get our
libertie, and our suerties discharged. Then I thinke it
wil be our best way, either one or both to returne,
because our troubles have bene so great, & so much of
our goods spoyled and lost. But if it please God that I
come into England, by Gods helpe, I will returne hither
againe. It is a brave and pleasant countrey, and very
fruitfull. The summer is almost all the yeere long, but
the chiefest at Christmas.
The day and the night are all of one length, very litle,
difference, and marveilous great store of fruits. For all
our great troubles, yet are we fat and well liking, for
victuals are here plentie and good cheape. And here I
will passe over to certifie you of strange things, untill our
meeting, for it would be too long to write thereof. And
thus I commit you to God, who ever preserve you and
us all. From Goa in the East Indies the 25 of Januarie
1584. Yours to command,
Ralph Fitch.
Ralph Fitch.
